The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Uttar Pradesh government in response to multiple petitions challenging its directive requiring eateries and dhabas along the Kanwar Yatra route to display QR codes containing ownership information.
The court sought the state’s response following petitions filed by Delhi University professor Apoorvanand Jha and activist Aakar Patel. The petitioners argued that the directive amounts to a digital form of religious profiling, which violates a previous Supreme Court order. That earlier order, issued in July 2023, had stayed similar mandates from both Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, which required food vendors and hawkers to display the names of owners and staff. At the time, the court had ruled that while authorities may require information about the type of food being served, they could not mandate disclosure of the owner’s identity.
The current petitions allege that the QR code requirement is a case of “wilful disobedience” of the court’s previous ruling, stating, “These steps effectively serve the same unconstitutional end through digital means.” The plea cites media reports confirming that the QR codes grant public access to ownership details, thereby bypassing the court’s restraint.
Further, the petitioners warned of a “grave and imminent risk” to the rights of affected vendors, especially those belonging to minority communities. They argued that the vague and overly broad directives blur the line between lawful licensing and unlawful religious profiling, potentially paving the way for “violent enforcement” by vigilante groups or authorities.
The petitioners have urged the Supreme Court to immediately prohibit the Uttar Pradesh government from enforcing the directive, arguing that it is essentially a rebranded version of a previously stayed and constitutionally problematic policy.
